Pujara Scoffs At Idea Of Indian Advantage In Dubai: Indian Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara has brought out a unique opinion on the Indian Cricket Team’s all their games of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai, rubishing the idea of the team getting an advantage of playing their games in the same ground.
While CT 2025 is hosted by Pakistan, the Indian team did not travel to the host country due to security concerns. So, the Men in Blue have played all their games at an alternate venue, the Dubai International Stadium in the UAE.
So far, playing in Dubai, India has won all three of their Group A games against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. After finishing on top of their group, the Indians defeated Australia in the semifinal on the same ground and will now face New Zealand in the final.
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Many critics have pointed out that despite not being the host, India has an “unfair” advantage in this competition. They play all their games at the same stadium and can thus adapt to the surface and conditions other teams would have no idea about. All the matches played in Pakistan have been played on batting-friendly surfaces, contrary to the spin-friendly tracks of Dubai.
Rohit Sharma’s men do not have to travel and can thus fall into a regular cycle of rest and practice. In addition to that, playing all their games on the same pitch, the Indian Cricket Team has understood it a lot more, seeing how they have been playing four spinners for the last two matches.
Pujara Scoffs At Idea Of Indian Advantage in Dubai
While most people believe that India playing all their matches in Dubai is advantageous to the defending T20 World Champions, Cheteshwar Pujara does not believe so. The veteran batter, who has been out of favour with the national team, believes that. In a recent interview with RecSportz, Pujara had this to say about this situation:
“The schedule was out there before the Champions Trophy began. The reason for the Indian team not to travel to Pakistan was the security. ICC and BCCI worked together to try and find a neutral venue. India has played against Pakistan at a neutral venue, and the UAE is closer to Pakistan. “I don’t think it’s an unfair advantage. If India had lost, no one would’ve said they played in Dubai; that’s why they lost. I don’t think it’s a home ground for India.”
India will now face New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium on March 9, marking the second time these two teams will compete in this competition at this venue. And if it fares like last time, which was a comfortable 44-run victory for India, the Men in Blue will lift their second ICC Trophy in a year.
Check Out: Pujara Scoffs At Idea Of Indian Advantage In Dubai
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